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In Vietnam, there is no distinction between breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some dishes that Westerners would normally eat for lunch or dinner, would also be eaten for breakfast. One of those dishes is Vietnamese meatballs or Xiu Mai. Contrary to what Westerners may think, this is a very popular breakfast food in Vietnam. Xiu Mai is made with a mixture of pork, shrimp and chopped-up jicama. The jicama provides a very subtle crunch to the meatballs, as well as serves as one of the components to keeping the meatballs moist. The meat balls are seared on a hot pan, then braised in a flavorful tomato sauce.

You can eat these meatballs in a baguette (Banh Mi Xiu Mai) with cilantro, cucumber and pickled vegetables. You can also eat it alongside a baguette. Simply tear a piece of the baguette and dip it into a warm bowl of Xiu Mai meatballs and all their juices. It's a tasty and hearty breakfast for a long day ahead.

Vietnamese Egg Rolls are marinated ground pork rolled in wheat wrappers and deep fried. It can be eaten as a main dish with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce (Nuoc Mam Cham) or as a component to a main dish like Vietnamese Grilled Pork with Vermicelli Noodles (Bun Thit Nuong). Vietnamese egg rolls filling may also include ground shrimp, chopped jicama, shredded carrot and cabbage. This recipe is a basic traditional recipe of ground pork, minced woodear mushroom and thin rice vermicelli noodles.

Banh Bao (“wrapping cake”) is a fluffy Vietnamese steamed bun with a savory filling. The most common filling is ground pork, onions, mushroom, Chinese sausage and a hard-boiled egg. Other varieties include vegetables such as peas, carrots and jicama.

The chilling temperature and me coming down with a cold had me thinking of one thing and one thing only. A nice hot bowl of Vietnamese thick rice porridge soup (Chao), also known as congee or gruel. The soft texture makes it a favorite among elders, babies and those who are sick. With less than a cup of rice, you can make a pot of chao to feed the whole family.

When I feel like torturing the neighbors, I take out the grill and cook up Nem Nướng, Vietnamese grilled pork sausage. I waft the aroma of this tasty Vietnamese sausage into their yard. That is what you get for taking my parking!

Vietnamese Steamed Rice Rolls or, Bánh Cuốn, are thin sheets of steamed rice batter filled with ground pork, jicama and wood ear mushrooms. The rice rolls get a glaze of scallion oil and a sprinkle of crispy fried shallots, then served on a bed of fresh thinly sliced cucumbers, chopped lettuce, Vietnamese herbs, blanched bean sprouts and slices of Vietnamese sausage (Chả Lụa). All of this is served with a side of Vietnamese fish sauce dipping sauce (Nước Mắm Chấm).

Mắm Chưng,in short, is the Vietnamese meatloaf. It is a steamed or baked Vietnamese dish made of ground pork, chicken and/or crab, mixed with wood ear mushrooms, thin vermicelli noodles, eggs and the mighty Vietnamese ingredient, fermented fish. It is a salty dish to be eaten with steamed white rice and fresh slices of cucumber.

Xiu Mai is made with a mixture of pork, shrimp and chopped-up jicama. The jicama provides a very subtle crunch to the meatballs, as well as serves as one of the components to keeping the meatballs moist. The meat balls are seared on a hot pan, then braised in a flavorful tomato sauce.

Pot stickers are mini meals that are easy to make and easy to eat. The fillings are soft and moist, and the wrapper is thick and chewy. Plus, the dumplings are versatile. You can use any type of ground meat and any type of vegetables. Made too many? Pop the uncooked ones in the freezer and they can keep for months!